BREAKING NEIL HARRIS: “MONDAY 9TH DECEMBER 2019 “
Mon Dec 09, 2019 2:54 pm
Neil Harris gives injury updates ahead of tough Brentford trip plus much more 
Monday 9th December 2019
NEIL HARRIS:
Morrison taking it well?
“He’s been excellent. I value him as a very good centre-half. It’s about him as a person and a quality player. If your leaders are leading in the right manner, everybody follows.”
NEIL HARRIS:
Slow start, lightened the workload?
No, they’re not fit enough this squad . They have to get fitter.
We’ve come down an intensity level or two. On Saturday, when I said about training standards and training intensity.
I looked at the sport science and maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t, you don’t know.
Individually the players will have to look at themselves and ask if they reached the standards. Some didn’t, some did.
We’ve talked about Tommo and Flinty being exceptional. But then that’s what a good team does, find a way to win. A good team, when two or three don’t hit their standards, four or five go above and beyond their standards. That’s how to balance it about
Harris
Monday 9th December 2019
NEIL HARRIS:
Morrison taking it well?
“He’s been excellent. I value him as a very good centre-half. It’s about him as a person and a quality player. If your leaders are leading in the right manner, everybody follows.”
NEIL HARRIS:
Slow start, lightened the workload?
No, they’re not fit enough this squad . They have to get fitter.
We’ve come down an intensity level or two. On Saturday, when I said about training standards and training intensity.
I looked at the sport science and maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t, you don’t know.
Individually the players will have to look at themselves and ask if they reached the standards. Some didn’t, some did.
We’ve talked about Tommo and Flinty being exceptional. But then that’s what a good team does, find a way to win. A good team, when two or three don’t hit their standards, four or five go above and beyond their standards. That’s how to balance it about
Harris
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Re: NEIL HARRIS:
Mon Dec 09, 2019 2:55 pm
Follow all the updates below.
NEIL HARRIS:
Left-back, can Joel Bagan step up?
Joel’s not ready at the moment to step up. When you talk about pathway, you’ve always got to be careful about what you say.
Joel’s not played a lot of 23s football and not been afforded a lot of time playing with the first team before I came in. So, you’ve got to put the players in at the right time. He’s also suspended! So that counts against him as well!
When the players are ready, the chances will be there for them. I mentioned Joel and Ntazana Mayembe before in my interviews.
But to step into Championship football, it’s a complete other level.
Harris
NEIL HARRIS:
Left-back, can Joel Bagan step up?
Joel’s not ready at the moment to step up. When you talk about pathway, you’ve always got to be careful about what you say.
Joel’s not played a lot of 23s football and not been afforded a lot of time playing with the first team before I came in. So, you’ve got to put the players in at the right time. He’s also suspended! So that counts against him as well!
When the players are ready, the chances will be there for them. I mentioned Joel and Ntazana Mayembe before in my interviews.
But to step into Championship football, it’s a complete other level.
Harris
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Re: NEIL HARRIS:
Mon Dec 09, 2019 4:32 pm
NEIL HARRIS:
Neil Etheridge distribution
I’m never going to paper over anything, Neil’s kicking was poor on the weekend and he’ll be the first to admit that.
It’s something he has worked hard on over the last few years to improve with the modern game.
You just ask players to keep practising.
It’s not always highlighting what you’re good at, it’s highlighted what you need to improve on. That’s nothing to be ashamed of.
So Neil is working hard with the other goalkeepers and Andy Dibble to improve. He has made some important saves and been reliable from set-pieces, so kicking is a little bit variable and we will just keep trying to help him to improve.
I said at half-time that the amount of pass backs we gave wasn’t ideal either
Harris
Neil Etheridge distribution
I’m never going to paper over anything, Neil’s kicking was poor on the weekend and he’ll be the first to admit that.
It’s something he has worked hard on over the last few years to improve with the modern game.
You just ask players to keep practising.
It’s not always highlighting what you’re good at, it’s highlighted what you need to improve on. That’s nothing to be ashamed of.
So Neil is working hard with the other goalkeepers and Andy Dibble to improve. He has made some important saves and been reliable from set-pieces, so kicking is a little bit variable and we will just keep trying to help him to improve.
I said at half-time that the amount of pass backs we gave wasn’t ideal either
Harris
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Re: BREAKING NEIL HARRIS:
Mon Dec 09, 2019 4:34 pm
NEIL HARRIS: JAZZ RICHARDS
So is that an area you’re looking at?
I think we have to look at the full-back areas. Obviously Jazz came back into the squad in the weekend.
I have spoken highly of Jazz as well. My teams in the past have played against jazz as a right-back and at left-back, so I have seen him in both positions.
When you have someone who can cover both positions that really is ideal. However we have to be mindful of Jazz’s injury record in the last two seasons and Jazz has to prove himself day in, day out he can train and play at a continuous standard to be considered regularly for a starting position.
So full-back areas, left back probably in particular, is an area we will have one eye on definitely for January.
Harris
So is that an area you’re looking at?
I think we have to look at the full-back areas. Obviously Jazz came back into the squad in the weekend.
I have spoken highly of Jazz as well. My teams in the past have played against jazz as a right-back and at left-back, so I have seen him in both positions.
When you have someone who can cover both positions that really is ideal. However we have to be mindful of Jazz’s injury record in the last two seasons and Jazz has to prove himself day in, day out he can train and play at a continuous standard to be considered regularly for a starting position.
So full-back areas, left back probably in particular, is an area we will have one eye on definitely for January.
Harris
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Re: BREAKING NEIL HARRIS:
Mon Dec 09, 2019 4:38 pm
NEIL HARRIS:
Learn a lot on Saturday?
It wasn’t the most fluent of performances. There was a lot of quality in it.
We’ve had the post-match this morning and showed them a lot of clips. Just like the first half at Charlton.
I learned a lot about their character on the weekend and at Charlton. I’ve learned a lot about the group behind the scenes.
Like Sean Morrison, who has been outstanding, a leader. He wants to be in the team.
I’m learning all the time about the squad. It’s my job to put it right
Harris
Learn a lot on Saturday?
It wasn’t the most fluent of performances. There was a lot of quality in it.
We’ve had the post-match this morning and showed them a lot of clips. Just like the first half at Charlton.
I learned a lot about their character on the weekend and at Charlton. I’ve learned a lot about the group behind the scenes.
Like Sean Morrison, who has been outstanding, a leader. He wants to be in the team.
I’m learning all the time about the squad. It’s my job to put it right
Harris
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Re: BREAKING NEIL HARRIS:
Mon Dec 09, 2019 4:40 pm
Watched the youth team on Saturday, impressed?
NEIL HARRIS:
I didn’t see the goals because I left at half-time to go over to the stadium.
I wasn’t so much interested in individual performances, just looking at the players and set-up of it all.
Trying to get to know faces from afar at Leckwith.
I’ve already seen a lot of the u23s and now, looking at the u18s, the academy is in safe hands and moving in the right direction.
There’s a pathway moving to the first team
Harris
NEIL HARRIS:
I didn’t see the goals because I left at half-time to go over to the stadium.
I wasn’t so much interested in individual performances, just looking at the players and set-up of it all.
Trying to get to know faces from afar at Leckwith.
I’ve already seen a lot of the u23s and now, looking at the u18s, the academy is in safe hands and moving in the right direction.
There’s a pathway moving to the first team
Harris
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Re: BREAKING NEIL HARRIS:
Mon Dec 09, 2019 4:41 pm
Keeping morale high in the wider group?
NEIL HARRIS:
It is in the sense of, if they’re good pros and they really want to do it, they are going to be disappointed and deflated.
My only message to them, I try to do it with a bit of humility, put an arm around them, keep them going and try to make them feel an important part of the group.
We’ve got a lot of games in a short space of time over Christmas. We’ve got a big squad, so everyone can’t play at the same time.
You have those individual chats and remind them of their importance. When a team in front of you is playing well and individuals, too, you have to say ‘When that chance comes I’m going to take it’.
Harris
NEIL HARRIS:
It is in the sense of, if they’re good pros and they really want to do it, they are going to be disappointed and deflated.
My only message to them, I try to do it with a bit of humility, put an arm around them, keep them going and try to make them feel an important part of the group.
We’ve got a lot of games in a short space of time over Christmas. We’ve got a big squad, so everyone can’t play at the same time.
You have those individual chats and remind them of their importance. When a team in front of you is playing well and individuals, too, you have to say ‘When that chance comes I’m going to take it’.
Harris
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Re: BREAKING NEIL HARRIS:
Mon Dec 09, 2019 4:58 pm
Warnock on Goals on Sunday? Top two?
MNEIL HARRIS:
I think Neil is correct in the sense that he has left a good squad behind. Can we make the top two, that is a challenge when you look at Leeds and West Brom, how good they are. When you look at Fulham behind them and teams that have been more consistent than us over the season.
I think we have had a good four games with 10 points. We are really proud of that and really pleased with the impact so far but the next four to six games are really going to challenge us.
So it really will test the squad over the next coming weeks. Other than that, Neil obviously has faith in the squad he has built.
I see the players every day now, they are good players. It’s finding that consistency for them, obviously that shift in mentality from when I took over the team that wasn’t winning, got them back winning. But consistently winning isn’t done just over a four-game period, it’s done over eight, 10, 12 games.
Harris
MNEIL HARRIS:
I think Neil is correct in the sense that he has left a good squad behind. Can we make the top two, that is a challenge when you look at Leeds and West Brom, how good they are. When you look at Fulham behind them and teams that have been more consistent than us over the season.
I think we have had a good four games with 10 points. We are really proud of that and really pleased with the impact so far but the next four to six games are really going to challenge us.
So it really will test the squad over the next coming weeks. Other than that, Neil obviously has faith in the squad he has built.
I see the players every day now, they are good players. It’s finding that consistency for them, obviously that shift in mentality from when I took over the team that wasn’t winning, got them back winning. But consistently winning isn’t done just over a four-game period, it’s done over eight, 10, 12 games.
Harris
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Re: BREAKING NEIL HARRIS:
Mon Dec 09, 2019 5:07 pm
NEIL HARRIS:
Brentford, slick football etc?
Really tough four-day period for us. You put Forest in that away. Three away games very difficult for us. Tough little period.
Brentford we know are a very good side. Really dangerous going forward. Got the ability not just to pass but to go over the top as well.
We know the result against Luton was emphatic
Harris
Brentford, slick football etc?
Really tough four-day period for us. You put Forest in that away. Three away games very difficult for us. Tough little period.
Brentford we know are a very good side. Really dangerous going forward. Got the ability not just to pass but to go over the top as well.
We know the result against Luton was emphatic
Harris
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Re: BREAKING NEIL HARRIS:
Mon Dec 09, 2019 5:10 pm
Sean Morrison, unusual thing for him not to be playing?
NEIL HARRIS:
“By his own admission, he would have been quite a frustrated man a few years ago. He’s always been a player who has played regularly. It’s the first time he’s found himself out of the side. With the experience he has got and leadership he has got he is looking at it as a means to re-energise and go again.I know he wants to play. He’s club captain and I value him as a person.”
“You ask for patience in those players. You have to keep working in them and believing in them.”
Harris
NEIL HARRIS:
“By his own admission, he would have been quite a frustrated man a few years ago. He’s always been a player who has played regularly. It’s the first time he’s found himself out of the side. With the experience he has got and leadership he has got he is looking at it as a means to re-energise and go again.I know he wants to play. He’s club captain and I value him as a person.”
“You ask for patience in those players. You have to keep working in them and believing in them.”
Harris
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Re: BREAKING NEIL HARRIS:
Mon Dec 09, 2019 5:22 pm
NEIL HARRIS:
Three games in a week?
“It does come into my thinking to a certain level. Saturday to Wednesday is a big gap, but you have to have an eye on Elland Road on the weekend. Sometimes you’re best going game to game and thinking about the next game after that.”
Harris
Three games in a week?
“It does come into my thinking to a certain level. Saturday to Wednesday is a big gap, but you have to have an eye on Elland Road on the weekend. Sometimes you’re best going game to game and thinking about the next game after that.”
Harris
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Re: BREAKING NEIL HARRIS:
Mon Dec 09, 2019 5:25 pm
New faces Wednesday?
NEIL HARRIS:
“Possibly. It’s about continuity in team and quad selection. I’m a big believer that if you’re playing well and the shirt is yours, you have to lose it or someone has to grab you off it.”
“People are picked on merit, on performances. We will have a roll call again tomorrow morning. Brentford have got real qualities.”
Harris
NEIL HARRIS:
“Possibly. It’s about continuity in team and quad selection. I’m a big believer that if you’re playing well and the shirt is yours, you have to lose it or someone has to grab you off it.”
“People are picked on merit, on performances. We will have a roll call again tomorrow morning. Brentford have got real qualities.”
Harris
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Re: BREAKING NEIL HARRIS:
Mon Dec 09, 2019 5:32 pm
Others? Whyte?
NEIL HARRIS:
“Good, back fit. Glatz, Sol, Omar, all trained Saturday morning and some are edging closer. It’s a competitive squad. Decisions to make. No rush to put people in. But those guys are ready to step in.
Rallsy, he’s OK. He trained last week, we didn’t feel he would be quite ready on the weekend. This week, he stepped up training again today, I expect him back in the squad this week. It’s been really nice having him on the training pitch. He’s a winner and a competitor and it’s been a big plus for us having him back.”
Harris
NEIL HARRIS:
“Good, back fit. Glatz, Sol, Omar, all trained Saturday morning and some are edging closer. It’s a competitive squad. Decisions to make. No rush to put people in. But those guys are ready to step in.
Rallsy, he’s OK. He trained last week, we didn’t feel he would be quite ready on the weekend. This week, he stepped up training again today, I expect him back in the squad this week. It’s been really nice having him on the training pitch. He’s a winner and a competitor and it’s been a big plus for us having him back.”
Harris
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Re: BREAKING NEIL HARRIS:
Mon Dec 09, 2019 6:03 pm
Bacuna injury?
NEIL HARRIS:
“We’ve been quite fortunate, he looks OK. Not sure about Wednesday. Fearful when he came off hobbling, it didn’t look great, but it looks like an impact. Might be down to whether he can get a boot on or not. He is OK in flip-flops and trainers, just the football boot.”
NEIL HARRIS:
“We’ve been quite fortunate, he looks OK. Not sure about Wednesday. Fearful when he came off hobbling, it didn’t look great, but it looks like an impact. Might be down to whether he can get a boot on or not. He is OK in flip-flops and trainers, just the football boot.”
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Re: BREAKING NEIL HARRIS:
Wed Dec 11, 2019 9:15 am
Forever Blue wrote:Bacuna injury?
NEIL HARRIS:
“We’ve been quite fortunate, he looks OK. Not sure about Wednesday. Fearful when he came off hobbling, it didn’t look great, but it looks like an impact. Might be down to whether he can get a boot on or not. He is OK in flip-flops and trainers, just the football boot.”
Sounds like maybe Ralls in for Bacuna?
Re: BREAKING NEIL HARRIS: “MONDAY 9TH DECEMBER 2019 “
Wed Dec 11, 2019 1:13 pm
Where is our 5 million star striker glatzel ? Wonder if he gets a look in over madine.
Re: BREAKING NEIL HARRIS: “MONDAY 9TH DECEMBER 2019 “
Wed Dec 11, 2019 1:21 pm
The Bluebirds are likely to have a number of faces returning to the fray this week, but the City manager has been reticent to change a winning side so far
Neil Harris will be facing something of a selection dilemma tonight as he prepares for a number of key figures to re-enter the fray for Cardiff City's clash with Brentford.
One worrying sign on Saturday was Leandro Bacuna hobbling off the field, but Harris allayed some fears by claiming the midfielder might have gotten 'lucky' with his injury.
There was some slight swelling around the ankle and it seems just a case of whether he will be able to get his boot on this evening.
Elsewhere, it looks like Joe Ralls is expected to be included in the squad in some capacity this week.
The Bluebirds boss felt it was too early for him to be brought back in last weekend but fully expects him to play some part this week, whether that be tonight or against Leeds United at Elland Road this weekend.
Ralls has stepped up his training in the last week and if he is back fit then would represent a real boost, especially if Bacuna is declared unfit.
Robert Glatzel will likely be back in contention this week, too, but given the recent performances of both Gary Madine and Danny Ward, it will purely come down to the manager's selection.
It also seems like a matter of time when Harris hands Jazz Richards a start and even hinted that the player could provide competition for Joe Bennett at left back, so don't be surprised if he is handed his first full start of the season.
Gavin Whyte has also forced his way back into contention, having fully recovered from the injury he picked up while on international duty with Northern Ireland.
The performances of wingers Junior Hoilett and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, however, have proved the cornerstone of Harris's success so far, though, therefore it would be a stretch to see them displaced.
So Harris looks set for something of a selection headache tonight, but it certainly isn't the worst problem to have.
Neil Harris will be facing something of a selection dilemma tonight as he prepares for a number of key figures to re-enter the fray for Cardiff City's clash with Brentford.
One worrying sign on Saturday was Leandro Bacuna hobbling off the field, but Harris allayed some fears by claiming the midfielder might have gotten 'lucky' with his injury.
There was some slight swelling around the ankle and it seems just a case of whether he will be able to get his boot on this evening.
Elsewhere, it looks like Joe Ralls is expected to be included in the squad in some capacity this week.
The Bluebirds boss felt it was too early for him to be brought back in last weekend but fully expects him to play some part this week, whether that be tonight or against Leeds United at Elland Road this weekend.
Ralls has stepped up his training in the last week and if he is back fit then would represent a real boost, especially if Bacuna is declared unfit.
Robert Glatzel will likely be back in contention this week, too, but given the recent performances of both Gary Madine and Danny Ward, it will purely come down to the manager's selection.
It also seems like a matter of time when Harris hands Jazz Richards a start and even hinted that the player could provide competition for Joe Bennett at left back, so don't be surprised if he is handed his first full start of the season.
Gavin Whyte has also forced his way back into contention, having fully recovered from the injury he picked up while on international duty with Northern Ireland.
The performances of wingers Junior Hoilett and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, however, have proved the cornerstone of Harris's success so far, though, therefore it would be a stretch to see them displaced.
So Harris looks set for something of a selection headache tonight, but it certainly isn't the worst problem to have.